KALABURAGI  WEDNESDAY  NOVEMBER 04, 2020  `7.00  PAGES 14  CITY EDITION OCTOBER EXPORTS, IMPORTS DIP, TRADE DEFICIT NARROWS After recording positive growth in September, India’s exports fell 5.4% to $24.82 billion in October, latest data showed PETROLEUM, GEMS, LEATHER SHIPMENTS DOWN Lower shipments in petroleum products (down 53.30%) and India’s mainstays gems & jewellery (down 21.27%), and leather (down 16.69%) saw exports falling in the festive month. Imports also fell 11.56% to $33.6 billion, leading to trade deficit narrowing to $8.78 billion. Sectors which grew include rice, oil meals, iron ore, oil seeds, carpet, pharma and spices ■ Stimulus PM MODI TO CHAIR GLOBAL INVESTOR MEET ■ PM Narendra Modi will on Thursday chair a virtual global investor roundtable, which will be attended by leading global investors It will be an exclusive dialogue between global institutional investors, Indian business leaders and the highest decision makers from the Indian govt and financial market regulators P12 PACKAGE WILL BE UNVEILED SOON, SAID TARUN BAJAJ, SECRETARY - DEA CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ WARANGAL ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Trump or Biden? Florida may offer the earliest clue NITISH RULE ENDED ANARCHY, SAYS MODI Under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar had left behind the darkness of insecurity and anarchy of the RJD rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. “Roads and markets today bustle with people even late at night.” After around 100 million cast their ballot early, voters queued up to decide who will be their next president amid Covid worries and fears of violence if Trump loses but refuses to concede defeat. A look at the race to 270 electoral college votes for outright victory EXPECT DELAY Security fencing put up around White House in Washington on Tuesday | AP MARKETS BUOYANT First polls close at 4.30 am IST on Tuesday, but the last one will be open toll 11.30 am on Wednesday, so the final results will be delayed No uniform rule on how and when to count postal ballots. Also, states differ in postal ballot deadlines. Georgia, for instance, will count ballots received on or before November 3, but others like Ohio will accept late ballots if they have the November 3 postmark WHITE HOUSE ‘LOCKDOWN’ US stocks led the rally in global equity markets as optimism of Biden’s victory surged and hopes for fresh stimulus. Dow Jones up; major S&P indexes stay north Amid concern over possible violence, with some even fearing a civil war, a fence was erected around the White House complex, the Ellipse and Lafayette Square National Guard troops have been put on standby T H E F LO R I DA FACTO R Of all the swing states, Florida is the largest with 29 electoral college votes. Its result will be declared early as the state has been counting the mail-in ballots as they arrive, unlike others that begin the counting process today. If Trump loses Florida, analysts say it will be very tough for him to pull off a win | P11 Sira sees good turnout, but poor voting in RR Nagar A N U S H A R A V I @ Bengaluru AMID a pandemic and safety precautions in place the Election Commission successfully concluded polling for Sira and Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly constituencies on Tuesday . While Sira recorded about 82.31 per cent turnout in the provisional estimates at end of polling, Rajarajeshwari Nagar recorded an abysmally low turnout at 45.24 per cent — almost 10 per cent lesser than the turnout for the 2018 assembly election. Of the 2,15,725 registered electors in Sira, 1,77,553 voters polled on Tuesday while , in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, of the 4,62,210 eligible electors, only 2,09,083 voted. Overall polling stood at 57.04 per cent. There may may be a slight revision in the numbers after final calculation. The low voter turnout in Rajarajeshwari Nagar came as a dampener for the BJP and the Congress, which are in a direct fight for the seat. The high voter turnout in Sira, despite the pandemic, has brought cheer to the three major parties, with all of them expecting a sureshot victory . Bypolls usually witness lower voter turnout, but Sira has proved to be an exception. In 2018, the seat had seen 84.77% polling. The pandemic seems to have barely deterred voters, with some polling stations like Saluparahalli recording 94.3 per cent tur nout. Rajarajeshwari Nagar has always recorded low voter turnout, but Tuesday’s turnout was the worst in the last few elections. Political parties are of the opinion that the low voter turn- VIENNA SHOCKER Four dead, 17 wounded in suspected terror attack EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE Voters show their inked fingers after casting their ballot for bypolls to the RR Nagar assembly seat, in Bengaluru on Tuesday | NAGARAJA GADEKAL R R NAGAR SIRA 45.24% 82.31% In the 2018 Assembly polls, the constituency saw a voter turnout of 54.38%, which was lower that the 2013 turnout of 56.82% out may be for a myraid of reasons ranging from lack of enthusiasm, pandemic scare, reverse migration of voters owing to ‘Work From Home’ or lockdown effect to a lack of real competition among candidates. “We expected about 5-6 per cent more polling in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, but given the turnout, we expect to win with a margin of 21,000-22,000 votes. In Sira, we are confident of winning with a 10,000 vote margin. If not for the low turnout, we would have won with In the 2018 Assembly polls, the constituency saw a voter turnout of 84.77%, which was higher that the 2013 turnout of 79.19% 40,000 vote margin in RR Nagar,” claimed BJP national general secretary C T Ravi. The Congress too is worried about the tur nout in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. “Many migrant workers have not returned to their homes in the constituency due to the government’s failure. We are confident that voters have chosen us. In Sira, T B Jayachandra will win with a big margin though it being a three-cornered fight,” said KPCC working president Saleem Ahmed. CONTINUED ON: P5 AT LEAST four people were killed in Vienna and 17 were wounded, some of them critically when gunmen fired upon , people at random in the Austrian capital on Monday night. One of the assailants, identified as 20-year-old ISIS sympathiser Kujtim Fejzulai, was shot dead by police. He was reportedly wearing a fake suicide vest. Police said they were searching for at least one more shooter still at large. The shooting happened in the heart of Vienna hours before a coronavirus lockdown started, Austrian authorities said on Tuesday . Of the four killed, two were women, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said, terming it an Islamist terror attack. “It was an attack out of hatred — hatred for our fundamental values, hatred for our way of life, hatred for our democracy in which all people have equal rights and dignity he added. ,” Authorities said of the 17 injured in the attack, seven were in life-threatening condition. According to reports, the attacker who was shot dead was released from jail last year after spending 22 months of incarceration for trying to travel to Syria to join the ISIS. The terror attack drew widespread condemnation from global leaders, including from French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country experienced three terror attacks in recent weeks, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. FIGHTING THE VIRUS Covid-19 can’t deter this determined voter A S H W I N I M S R I PA D @ Bengaluru LAST Monday 35-year-old Pin, nu Rajesh was admitted to M S Ramaiah Hospital after he tested positive for Covid-19. Little he expect that he will be casting his vote about a week later, wearing a PPE kit. He was among the four Covid-positive voters who cast their vote in Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly constituency on Tuesday . The Election Commission and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities had made all arrangements for the infected voters. They voted after everyone else had done so, and the polling A Covid patient shows the thumbs-up sign after casting his vote in the RR Nagar bypoll, at a polling booth in Laggere, Bengaluru, on Tuesday | NAGARAJA GADEKAL booth was sprayed with disinfectant after the Covid-19 patients had cast their votes. Rajesh, a native of Andhra Pradesh, came to Bengaluru six years ago and since then, he has been a voter here. He has BOTH TEJASHWI & I ARE THE FUTURE: RAHUL not missed voting in any election, even back in his home state, ever since he turned 18. A school van driver, he is now doing odd jobs like plumbing to take care of his wife and two children, as schools are shut. Sounding disappointed with the low voting percentage in the constituency, Rajesh said, “It is a right that everyone should exercise, irrespective of whether it is Covid or non-Covid times. Many people who are fit and fine did not vote, and have missed an opportunity. They cannot question the elected representative.” Explaining his trauma, Rajesh said last week, he had fever for two days, and despite taking medicines, it did not subside. He then underwent a Covid-19 test, which turned out positive, and he was admitted to MS Ramaiah Hospital under P3 BBMP quota. “NDA has plundered Bihar and lied to the people. Modi and Nitish are a spent force have not done anything for the state. But our alliance will deliver. Tejashwi ji and me are the future,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said ‘Parivartan’ looks certain, but it may mean more than Nitish or Tejashwi in Bihar MUKESH RANJAN @ Bhagalpur/Kishenganj/Khagaria IF random voices of voters were to be taken as an indication of what might come on November 10, when votes for the Bihar polls are counted, then the state will see a parivartan (change). At many villages and towns, especially in the poorest districts, there is a sense of despair and even anger. On the face of it, this could be interpreted as a sign that the 15-year rule of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is coming to an end and that his challenger, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, is going to win hands down. Yet, the mood of the people is not as black and white as it may seem, rather there is a lot of grey So while there is a cry for . change, the voters don’t want the RJD. The voters are agreed that Nitish has brought development, but are angry with him that he has failed on employment, migrants and bureaucratic corruption. In other words, the Nitish and Tejashwi seem to be their own biggest enemy Rudra Ku. mar, a final year graduation student at Zero Mile in Naugachia village of Bhagalpur district, said being a Yadav, he would vote for the RJD candidate from his Gopalpur seat but praised both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitish. Voters stand in queues patiently awaiting their turn to cast their votes during the second phase of Bihar Assembly elections in Patna on Tuesday | PTI BIHAR 2020 53.51% “I want the RJD to win from my seat but an NDA government must be formed in Bihar,” he said. Explaining the contradiction, Kumar said: “If Tejashwi Yadav comes to power, there will be jungle raj in Bihar once again.” Tejashwi rallies are drawing huge crowds where the mood is of parivartan, but his party’s record of lawlessness haunts him. And if a taste of things under his possible regime was needed, it came on Tuesday, hours after voting in a constituency of Patna. Kavindra Mahato, 45, and his family were allegedly thrashed by RJD goons for not voting for Turnout in Phase II of Bihar polls till 5 pm. Figure likely to go up. Total 53.79% polling in two phases so far as against 55.35% in 2015 their party The victim has filed . a written complaint with the police against some unknown persons. Narrating the incident to a local video journalist, Mahato alleged that the goons tore his shirt. If Tejashwi falls under his own weight, then Nitish could also trip on his own for which he will have only himself to blame. Anil Kumar Yadav of East Thatha village in Khagaria district, admitted that under Nitish, the state has seen development. “The condition of main roads and highways along with electricity and water has definitely improved in the P10 state,” Yadav said. EXPRESS READ Nirav Modi: UK judge admits CBI, ED evidence London: A UK judge presiding over the extradition proceedings of Nirav Modi on Tuesday ruled that the evidence submitted by India to establish a prima facie case of fraud and money laundering against him is admissible. Karnataka govt may ban smoke-emitting crackers sions with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in a couple of AFTER states like Rajasthan, days, said sources. Odisha, West Bengal and HarySources said during the meetana decided to ban the sale of ings, the experts explained to crackers during Deepavali, the Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar Kar nataka Gover nthat smoke from crackment is likely to ban ers will pose a serious the sale of smokechallenge. “Since Covemitting firecrackers id-19 affects the lungs across the state. the most, even those “A few rounds of An additional load who have recovered of pollution in the meeting have been air will only makes from the virus will be held with health exvulnerable as their immatters worse, perts, including memmunity and respiratoespecially as a bers of the technical ry system will still be majority of Covid-19 cases committee on Covfragile. Bursting of in our state are id-19. They have sugsmoke-emitting crackthose who have gested to the Health ers can be dangerous,” co-morbidities Minister that firethe committee memcrackers can badly imbers have felt. Dr Satyanarayana pact the health of The sources said Mysore, those who have alMinister Sudhakar Manipal Hospitals ready been infected has been convinced with the disease and about the need to ban even to those who haven’t. the sale of firecrackers, but a Hence, smoke-emitting fire- decision will be taken after concrackers may be banned across sultations with the Chief Ministhe state,” pointed out a senior ter. “ meeting with the CM has A ministry official. been scheduled and a decision A final decision on this, how- will be taken soon,” a Health ever, will be taken after discus- Ministry official explained. P7 C H E TA N A B E L A G E R E @ Bengaluru Denied Prez appointment, Punjab CM to lead dharna Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will lead a relay ‘dharna’ of Congress MLAs at Delhi’s Rajghat on Wednesday following President Ram Nath Kovind’s refusal to meet a delegation led by him over the Centre’s farm laws. No increase in service charges by PSBs: Finmin New Delhi: The Finance Ministry on Tuesday said there has been no increase in service charges by any public sector bank, even as Bank of Baroda decided to withdraw changes made for the number of free cash deposit transactions in a bank account per month. Kerala, Delhi see rise in active Covid-19 cases New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said Kerala, Delhi, West Bengal and Manipur have shown a rise in the number of active Covid-19 cases between October 3 and November 3, while Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh were the top states which registered a decline in active infections.